So now there is a big brouhaha on how to protect/ save those records. This is a very serious issue for a couple of reasons. First the records pertaining to Titles/ Deeds/ Mineral Rights on many of the older properties. We are all aware of the ongoing battles on gaining access now to Oil/ Gas by combining properties in a Lease whether or not everyone agrees. In the last State Session an attempt to simplify "Eminent Domain" on some folks got slowed down for the moment, but it will come up again. In the Courts or the Legislature, bet on it.
Secondly there is the issues on Court Sentences as far as I am concerned. With the advances in DNA testing, it is becoming common for someone to get out of Prison because they were innocent to begin with. If these old records mold away and are destroyed, it is possible for some undeserving folks to continue living on the public nickel.
What is very interesting at least to me was a couple of years back, Ms. Jones our effervescent Circuit Court Clerk wanted to take the salary money for a departed employee and give the rest of the staff a raise. Now this is a somewhat common occurrence but got maybe sidelined when she was asked specifically about the ongoing project to scan the records. She said her office could not do it because of the work load. So why give raises when the obvious need for people was so apparent? Now, the problem has blown up with the mold and no money for much of anything it seems? Solution is to maybe realign what people are doing and when so that the scanning begins to get done and quickly.
Mr. Ferns the State Sen., Majority Leader is declaring that Mr. Justice is holding the State hostage. No special session scheduled and the clock running. Mr. Justice is holding fast to his plate of S*** to show his contempt for the Legislative Budget and they are not ready to accept his deal either. In the end no matter who blinks first, the folks are going to get hit with more taxes and costs for whatever. No one will face the need to roll back the headcounts via consolidation/ retirements to save salaries and benefits. Is really tough love, but the average person in this State just cannot afford more costs for the privilege to live here. Many already living pay check to paycheck and the Taxes/ Fees/ Surcharges and so on just keep piling on.
Found it so interesting that the County is now questioning how the Wood County Planning Commission hired an outside attorney from Charleston? Seems again that the Departments/ Committees are too footloose and fancy free. But I can after seeing how some of the local folks come up with the determinations they do see the need for more experienced and possibly worldly knowledge on how a Law really works? In any case the expenses for the Charleston guy seem more important than what he was hired to do and is questioning?
I am just ecstatic on the baker's dozen arrested in various locations by the inter-state drug investigation that just went down. And with 9 of the 13 allegedly in a Mexican Meth gang ( I would say if Mexican affiliated, probably closer to a Cartel than a gang), it could have some major ramifications for our area. If they are really moving into the MOV, it will get very messy and very soon. There are strong suspicions that the 8 people murdered last year in the Cincinnati area were involved in pot growing and got mixed up with the wrong people.
Have as I have posted several times lost relatives and friends to drug use and the things it does to families. And today, it seems the drugs of choice are so much more powerful that years back.
But still, a great big Atta Boy/ Girl to those who were involved in grabbing these guys. And the just now arrest of a gal for giving a guy an O.D. which killed him is another good sign that people are starting to get on the go. Now need the Courts to not slap their hands, but to put them away for some years.
See where Duke University did a study and found that Fracking isn't contaminating ground water in Northwestern WV. However, researches day accidental spills of fracking water could be dangerous to surface water. Controversial Industry could create as many as 3.5 million jobs by 2035 according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 'nuff said'.